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Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Suicide Prevention Program

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Memphis, TN, United States


Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)

You must possess a master's degree in Social Work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited

Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work

Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level

Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)

Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-12 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure

Experience Requirement: You must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level

Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency

Examples of specialized experience at the GS-11 include: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violence

Use of clinical social work skills

Maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks or directives

Acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver

Independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members - identifying the patient's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above you must demonstrate the following KSA's: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation - negotiation - and monitoring

Knowledge and ability to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines for the program

Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program

Skill in organizing work - setting priorities - meeting multiple deadlines - and evaluating assigned program area(s)

Ability to provide training - orientation - and guidance within clinical practice

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS -12

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties and Benefits

VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) will serve to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies within the medical center to help ensure that all appropriate measures are being taken to prevent suicide in our patient population

Duties include but are not limited to: Oversees the day-to-day processing of crisis line referrals from the National Veterans Crisis Line and ensures timely completion of follow-up contacts to requests

Monitors - reviews - and assigns local National Patient Record Flag for suicide through chart review - consultation with assigned clinical staff - and by assessment of the Veterans current state

Provides data collection - input - validation - and monitoring for suicide prevention and REACH VET programs

Services as REACH VET Program coordinator - ensuring adherence to national - VISN - and local guidelines and procedures related to REACH VET

Postvention Services: Provides debriefing and postvention support to staff and next of kin impacted by suicide loss

Provides outreach - teaching - and training to the Medical Center and CBOC staff members - Veterans - family members and community at large - about risk factors - warning signs - treatment options and resources available to Veterans at risk

Promotes the use of evidence-based intervention and strategies for suicide prevention in the medical center and CBOCs

Interfaces with services throughout the medical center to resolve administrative and clinical problems

Provides full range of clinical services - including crisis intervention - suicide risk evaluations and safety planning - case management - individual and group psychotherapy for Veterans who are at increased risk for suicide and adverse outcomes as needed

Services as the facility Subject Matter Expert for suicide prevention efforts - developing local procedures and ensuring compliance with local - VSIN - and national policy and directives related to suicide prevention and providing administrative and clinical guidance for Suicide Prevention - REACH VET - and related programs

Monitors inputs and analyzes dashboards to ensure metric compliance with national guidelines

Responds to referrals from the National Suicide Prevention Hotline/Veterans Crisis Line - internal facility calls - consults - and other referral methods to ensure Veteran safety - provide stabilization - support - and interventions

Maintains a valid drivers license to conduct community outreach and education events

Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Primarily Monday-Friday: 8:00am-4:30pm with occasional after hour/weekend events

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): No; Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be authorized to highly qualified applicants; EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact VISN9HREDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework: Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 51120-F

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